5 Things to Consider Before Moving into New Construction Buildings

Experienced homebuyers know to always do their research on a property before closing on a house. Anytime you buy a home, you have to have the house inspected to see if there’s any issues before moving in. However, this often gets overlooked when someone purchases a condo in a newly built apartment building. What could possibly go wrong? The place is brand new! Actually, there are a few things you should consider before moving in to that shiny new luxury complex.

1. Is the Apartment on the Map Already?

Many new construction developments in Boston are not on Google maps, even after tenants start to move in. The address to the apartment complex might also not exist for a while. This is a challenge when people come to visit you or when you need to ship items to your new location. Shipping items such as furniture to a known location and then hauling them to your new location is expensive and exhausting. Before moving into a new house, ask when the building will appear on the map and how you will receive your mail before you get a new address.

2. Is Construction Work Over?

In most cases, developers will begin selling off building units before construction work ends. Buyers looking to move in fast after closing may find that the building complex is halfway done when they’re ready to move in. Living in an apartment where construction work is still ongoing is not fun; the place is noisy, dusty and it is hard to find parking. To be sure, before closing, ask building management when they will complete construction.

3. Is there maintenance on site?

Believe it or not, new construction buildings do often have lots of issues; leaks, unfinished wiring, sockets and switches that are not working and much more. In the first few days after moving into the house, you will need help ironing out the fine details in your house that may have been overlooked by the construction crews.
When negotiating a lease or buy contract with a new construction building, be sure to ask about the procedure for maintenance repairs and their response time. This will help you get fast help when you need it most.

4. Will Your Home Need Customizations?

Whether your buying or renting in a new building, you will want to make it your own. Consider what the apartment will need to make it feel like home.  Will you want to paint walls, build sections, change furniture?  Also consider what amenities the building offers to see if it’s necessary to have it in your apartment.  No need to have an elliptical in your home if the building has a 24/7 gym!

5. Is a new apartment better than an old one?

Some of the newest development projects going on in Boston are truly cutting edge. Developers load these buildings from top to bottom with state of the art home technology, beautiful design trends, and the finest in luxury amenities. For those with refined taste, new construction buildings just have so much more to offer than your average apartments in Boston.

However, just because it’s new, doesn’t necessarily mean it’s good. Some new buildings use cheap materials and shabby workmanship in their construction. In so many cases nowadays, older buildings hold up longer over time than newly constructed buildings. So be wary, pay attention to detail, and make sure that if a building is being branded and sold as luxury, that they are actually using good materials that will stand the test of time.

Be sure to weigh out options and ask the right questions before you make a down payment for a house or sign a rental agreement. Be sure to know the plans of the development and read reviews of other tenants living at the building. The last thing you want to do is pay a premium for renting a ‘luxury apartment’ only to find that it’s not what you had hoped. Check out our Boston luxury apartments to compare different buildings and view available luxury apartments!